Process for the purification of nitriles

ABSTRACT

A PROCESS FOR PURIFYING NITRILE-CONTAINING COMPOSITIONS, PARTICULARLY COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING HYDROCYANIC ACID OR NITRILES SUCH AS ACRYLONITRILE. THE PROCESS INVOLVES FREEING THE NITRILES OF EPOXIDE IMPURITIES BY CONVERTING THE LATTER TO THE CORRESPONDING GLYCOLS BY HYDRATION IN THE PRESENCE OF ACIDS. THE NITRILES ARE THEN DISTILLED TO LEAVE THE GLYCOLS AS TAIL PRODUCTS.



